IMPHAL, March 28: Two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 6.4 struck Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread devastation. The tremors were felt across multiple countries, including Thailand, India, China, and Bangladesh, with significant structural damage reported in Myanmar and Thailand.

The death toll in Myanmar has risen to at least 39, with over 50 individuals injured. The fatalities were primarily caused by the collapse of buildings, including a mosque in Mandalay that killed 20 people. In Taungoo, a monastery sheltering war refugees also collapsed, killing at least five, including children.

Myanmar’s military-led government has requested international aid to assist in the ongoing rescue and relief operations. Myanmar’s National Disaster Management Committee declared a state of emergency across six regions in the southeast Asian country.

One of the most dramatic incidents was the collapse of the iconic Ava Bridge in Mandalay, which fell into the Irrawaddy River, severing key transport links. The historic Mandalay University also suffered severe fire and structural damage, raising fears of additional casualties. Emergency medical and rescue operations are being conducted across the affected regions, as Myanmar authorities continue to assess the damage.

The earthquakes’ impact extended beyond Myanmar’s borders. Tremors were felt as far as Thailand, China’s Yunnan province, Kolkata, Manipur and Meghalaya, India, as well as Dhaka and Chattogram in Bangladesh. In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, a 30-story under-construction building collapsed in the Chatuchak district, killing at least three workers, with 81 people still missing. Thailand has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, with metro services shut down, flights suspended, and high-rise buildings evacuated. Videos on social media have shown buildings shaking, people fleeing for safety, and water spilling out from rooftop pools.

India has offered assistance, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his concern and assuring India’s readiness to help. “Praying for the safety and wellbeing of everyone. India stands ready to offer all possible assistance. Our authorities are on standby,” Modi tweeted.

The Sagaing Fault, a major tectonic boundary, is known for causing earthquakes in Myanmar, and the region has experienced several significant quakes in the past. Authorities are continuing their rescue operations, with fears of potential aftershocks in the coming days.